GRHS Wrestling: Schlett, Hunko help to power Panthers to big wins on mat

Glen Rock sophomore Sean Lynch is in control of his bout at 170 pounds against Elmwood Park's Sammy Santos.Glen Rock freshman Jeremy Lipsky has the upper-hand advantage over Elmwood Park's Bryan Alfieri in their match at 220 pounds.

Eric Schlett and Zach Hunko have been drill partners for long enough to know each other's strengths, weaknesses and moves.

And now, both Glen Rock wrestlers have diversified their respective skill sets in practice and applied some newly learned moves in matches.

"I like to be on top, always riding," he said. "That's where I score my points. It's still been the same stuff on top: legs to a guillotine or power half. But on my feet, I've developed new moves and setups."

Schlett has been strong since his return from a head injury and is 16-3 on the season.

He said that working with Hunko has made him "better overall."

"When a move works on a wrestler as good as Hunko, who is 182 pounds, it will most definitely work on a kid my own weight," said Schlett, who wrestles at 152/160.

And he's earned praise from his drill partner.

"He's a great wrestler," Hunko said of Schlett. "If there's someone who is going to make you pay for performing a move incorrectly, it's him. We have been wrestling for a while now, so the 'norm' doesn't really work."

So, both wrestlers can't fall into the trap of being predictable.

"We're both guys that have the ability to do that," Schlett noted. "We've been around the sport our whole lives. We have great instincts."

Hunko has continued to be a dominant force this season, racking up 20 wins against just three losses.

"I've been working hard in practice, and I think now that I'm starting to incorporate a lot of new moves," he said. "I'm not so one-dimensional anymore."

In baseball, a pitcher might trust his fastball and use it as his out pitch, even if he possesses some decent secondary pitches — he just chooses his spots.

Hunko said he's had other moves in his arsenal, but "I didn't really have the confidence to use them in a match."

"I need to be able to rely on more than just one or two moves," Hunko added. "I've been trying to expand what I can do by experimenting in practice with the moves I haven't used in the past."

Karcher noted that Hunko and Schlett continue to be staples in an injury depleted Glen Rock/Saddle Brook lineup.

"Both guys are fine tuning," the coach said. "Zach with his cradle series and Eric with his leg riding."

Karcher, a former Ridgewood High School standout wrestler, wants both wrestlers to improve on their feet, making it tougher for opponents to score against them.

"In the practice room, we've been spending a lot of time on situational wrestling," he said. "Having one guy stuck on the mat with a single, locked in a cradle or flat on his back has paid off especially with the close decisions."